Foreign Aid spent correctly could be ONE solution to try

Less than one percent of the United States budget is dedicated to foreign aid, despite the fact that along with defense and diplomacy, foreign aid is one of the three pillars to achieving national security. ONE, an organization cofounded by Singer Bono, wants to ensure that foreign aid isn’t reduced and that the money is used in the most effective way.

“We can help secure our own country for a lot less than it would cost to maintain an army base,” says Naresh Kuma, ONE’s congressional district leader for the Salt Lake area. Getting programs on the ground in places like Afghanistan, Iraq and Somalia creates less of an opportunity for terrorist organizations to take root.

Kuma says that “it makes it a hard sell for the Taliban or Al-Qaeda” to recruit people when they are being recruited to fight against those who are helping.

Local organizers of ONE are looking to recruit people for the organization in Salt Lake City and at the University of Utah. In addition to its advocacy for foreign aid and national security, ONE looks to limit industry exploitation of natural resource rich lands, bring medical relief to those suffering from curable diseases in impoverished lands and eliminate famine.

“We don’t want money,” says Kuma, “what we do want is for people to give their voice.” Our leaders aren’t necessarily under any obligation to people in other countries who are in need; they do have an obligation to their constituents.

This article was originally published at examiner.com. Links updated Jan. 2017.